I don't understand how they can even have a lawsuit. Not only has he not done anything illegal, he hasn't profited from it either. Hell, both United and Orbitz are just giving more exposure to this technique so that others can do it from now on.

Perhaps the airlines should stop charging too much for short flights and using anti-trust and monopolistic practices to bend you over in the woodshed.

Before the computers at the gate, a buck to a curbside skycap could get your bag short tagged to the hidden city. Now you need to go without checked luggage. The savings can be much more than FedEx-ing your bag ahead of your flight.

I was a ticket agent and a ticket agent supervisor for Eastern Airlines in the 60's and 70's.I am also a graduate of their International Ticketing school.

Point beyond fares or (hidden city fares) were well known 50 years ago even when all airfares were basically identical since airfares were regulated by the Federal Government.

Back then, you could by a round trip ticket and check your bag to an intermediate destinationbecause there was not the computer tracking on your bag or ticket like there is now.

So, like the article says---- BUY TWO ONE WAY tickets to the furtherest point.

In today's world:

If you get off at your intermediate stop (the place you really want to go) and do not continue on your itinerary---- your return reservations will be cancelled automatically as the computer will pick up the fact that you did not fly the last leg of your trip.

So, that is why you can only book ONE WAY tickets.

Also, Federal law will NOT allow you to check your bag now to the intermediate destination,so, yes, you have to carry your bag on board since you will be getting off at yourintermediate stop---- either same flight number that has stops---- or a different flight number with a plane change.

I did this coming back from Manila last year. Just got off the plane in Los Angeleswith my bag, even though the plane was continuing on east bound. I had my bags with me--This saved me at least $1500.

With baggage fees, over dimensional and over weight charges what they are, I'm hearing that more and more serious travelers are shipping them by common carrier and catching up with them on arrival. I don't see this as a winnable suit by UAL.

This is nothing new. I and others were doing this twenty five years ago and it probably went on long before that. A flight from Los Angeles to Milwaukee through Chicago on United was much cheaper than a flight from Los Angeles to Chicago. So I would book a flight to Milwaukee even though I wanted to go to Chicago. Got off at Chicago and saved money. Enough people were doing this that United threated to back charge us full fare and to cancel our club memberships if we persisted Others have pointed out the same thing.s

I heard an interview with him Wed. and the airlines think he is making money off this, they are after income. He clearly stated he does not book the ticket and he is just simply providing the information through a search engine he wrote. His funding to defend the lawsuit is through a gofundme.com link.

Back in the paper ticket days, this was done all the time.Now in the fine print on your contract of carriage, it states that you must fly to your final destination.The skiers that were diverted from Vail to Denver last week would have had their reservations cancelled if they hopped on Alpine Taxi to Vail instead of waiting for another aircraft. They make you rebook your flights(been there-done that).

Unless there is stuff in the game I don't see how the suite will be successful. I have known many who have taken advantage of this technique. It's never been an option for me but I'm not adverse to saving a buck. It seems to me that he is only pointing out and making obvious things that the airlines publish.

I think one of the reasons for the suit is "pour décourager les autres" for others who might do something similar. Besides, the cost of in-house lawyers is a sunk cost and they may as well have them do something.

As I recall in "hidden cities fares", your city was the intermediate stop, not final as the website is set up. The website does nothing more than program in intermediate stops, which in many instances are cheaper. The "boys" have to keep them seats filled!